Apple256 GB
iPhone Air
6.5″ · OLED · 120 Hz · Apple A19 Pro · 6 CPU cores · 5 GPU cores · 16-core Neural Engine
256 GB · Space Black · UK A3517 · dual eSIM · MG2L4QN/AFull product profile
Space Black YOUR PHONE FACE-OFF
Real specs. Clear sources.Exact variants · Checked 26 Sept 2026Apple iPhone Air vs Google Pixel 9a
Space Black
WHO EACH ONE SUITS
Choose the iPhone Air if…
- you want a lighter phone: 165 g vs 186 g Source: Apple UK iPhone Air technical specifications (opens in a new tab)
- you want a higher-resolution front camera: 18 vs 13 MP Source: Apple UK iPhone Air technical specifications (opens in a new tab)
- you want a thinner body: 5.64 vs 8.9 mm Source: Apple UK iPhone Air technical specifications (opens in a new tab)
- you want the larger 6.5″ screen Source: Apple UK iPhone Air technical specifications (opens in a new tab)
Choose the Pixel 9a if…
- you prefer the smaller 6.3″ screen Source: Google UK Pixel 9a technical specifications (opens in a new tab)
- you need a physical SIM slot; the other is eSIM-only Source: Google UK Pixel 9a technical specifications (opens in a new tab)
Google256 GB
Pixel 9a
6.3″ · pOLED · 120 Hz · Google Tensor G4
256 GB · 8 GB RAM · Obsidian · UK specification GTF7PFull product profile
ObsidianAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
THE DIFFERENCES, MADE VISIBLE
Visual facts
Differences first. Select a topic for its graphic, sources and conditions.
How to read this comparison
How to read this comparison
- Manufacturer facts for the exact models shown. Not a quality rating or a test result.
- “Different” means the known values differ, not that one is better.
- Missing or conflicting evidence is marked and never counts as a difference. Source chips hold each fact’s sources and conditions.
SPECIFICATIONS SIDE BY SIDE6 topics
SELECTED TOPIC
01 / 06
Chipset
A different chip or core configuration is a hardware change, not a measured performance uplift.
iPhone Air
0.2″ larger diagonal.
Bigger is a preference, not a quality score.
- iPhone Air
- 6.5″
- Pixel 9a
- 6.3″
Relative diagonals · illustrative shape, not actual size
BOTH PHONES
Matching native reach.
Dedicated telephoto reach. No digital or crop zoom.
- iPhone Air
- No telephoto
- Pixel 9a
- No telephoto
Lens illustration · not an image-quality test
DATA INCOMPLETE
Playback on paper.
Up-to claims. Different test methods; no endurance winner.
- iPhone Air
- Up to 27h
- Pixel 9a
- Not verified
Arcs on a shared 0–40 h scale · not mixed-use battery life
WHAT CHANGES BETWEEN THEM?
Full specifications ↓Key differences
19 verified differences, most decision-relevant first. 2 are also drawn in Visual facts above. 1 manufacturer description restating separately listed fields is grouped below. Missing information stays separate.
Chipset
In Visual factsiPhone AirApple A19 Pro · 6 CPU cores · 5 GPU cores · 16-core Neural Engine
Pixel 9aGoogle Tensor G4
Sources
Different hardware. A chip name or generation does not quantify real-world performance.
Camera system
iPhone AirMain: 48 MP (f/1.6, OIS), 2x crop mode; Front: 18 MP; Video: up to 4K 60 fps
Pixel 9aWide: 48 MP (f/1.7, OIS); Ultra-wide: 13 MP (f/2.2); Front: 13 MP (f/2.2); Video: up to 4K 60 fps
Sources
Pixel 9a
No dedicated telephoto: Google lists Super Res Zoom up to 8x (digital) and 'optical quality' at 0.5x and 1x. Wide 1/2" sensor, 82° field of view, Quad PD Dual Pixel; ultra-wide 1/3.1" sensor, 120°; selfie 96.1° field of view. Front video 4K 30 fps.
Google UK Pixel 9a technical specificationsCompare the camera hardware and recording modes. Matching megapixels or zoom do not mean identical cameras.
Display specification
iPhone Air6.5-inch OLED; 2736 × 1260; up to 120 Hz; 3000 nits peak (outdoor)
Pixel 9apOLED; 2424 × 1080; 60–120 Hz; 2,700 nits peak
Sources
iPhone Air
460 ppi; ProMotion adaptive refresh; 1,000 nits typical and 1,600 nits HDR peak.
Apple UK iPhone Air technical specificationsPixel 9a
Diagonal published as 160 mm on the UK page and 6.3 inches on the US page; 422.2 PPI; up to 1,800 nits (HDR); Corning Gorilla Glass 3; >1,000,000:1 contrast. Brightness figures are Google claims.
Google UK Pixel 9a technical specificationsCheck the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.
Wireless connectivity
iPhone AirWi-Fi 7 · Bluetooth 6 · Thread · second-generation UWB
Pixel 9aWi-Fi 6E (2.4/5/6 GHz, 2×2 MIMO) · Bluetooth 5.3 · NFC · Google Cast · Dual-band GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, NavIC)
Sources
Check the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.
Update policy
iPhone AirNo fixed update period published; ships with iOS 26
Pixel 9a7 years of OS, security and Pixel Drop updates
Sources
Pixel 9a
Google's page does not state the start date on this page; Google's policy for Pixel counts from the model's initial availability, so the remaining term is shorter for a model launched with Android 15.
Google UK Pixel 9a technical specificationsDistinguish Android upgrades from security coverage. A total term from launch is not the support remaining from today or from purchase.
Listed operating system
iPhone AiriOS 26
Pixel 9aLaunched with Android 15
Sources
Launch software and update commitments differ. A newer launch version does not establish an exclusive feature.
Show 13 more verified differences
USB connection
iPhone AirUSB-C; USB 2 data up to 480 Mb/s
Pixel 9aUSB Type-C 3.2 · Power button · Volume controls
Sources
Check the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.
Battery and charging
iPhone AirUp to 27 h video; fast wired charging (20 W+ adapter), 20 W wireless
Pixel 9a5,100 mAh typical (5,000 mAh minimum); fast wired charging; Qi wireless charging
Sources
iPhone Air
Apple does not publish battery capacity in mAh. Up to 22 h streamed video; up to 50% in 30 minutes with a separately sold 20 W or higher USB-C adapter; MagSafe and Qi2 up to 20 W. Apple claims, not independent tests.
Apple UK iPhone Air technical specificationsPixel 9a
Google publishes no wired charging rate: its footnote says fast wired charging rates are based on the Google 45W USB-C Charger (adapters sold separately). Wireless charging is up to 7.5 W with Qi-certified EPP chargers. Battery-life claims (30+ hours; up to 100 hours with Extreme Battery Saver) are Google estimates, not independent tests.
Google UK Pixel 9a technical specificationsManufacturer claims for the stated mode and equipment. Read each test condition; this is not measured everyday battery life.
Device unlock
iPhone AirFace ID
Pixel 9aFingerprint Unlock · Face Unlock · Pattern, PIN, password
Sources
Check the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.
Display resolution
iPhone Air2736 × 1260
Pixel 9a1080 × 2424
Sources
Check the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.
eSIM only
iPhone AirYes
Pixel 9aNo
Sources
Check the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.
Front camera
iPhone Air18 MP Center Stage · f/1.9 · autofocus
Pixel 9a13 MP selfie camera; f/2.2 aperture; 96.1° ultrawide field of view
Sources
Compare the camera hardware and recording modes. Matching megapixels or zoom do not mean identical cameras.
Panel technology
iPhone AirOLED
Pixel 9apOLED
Sources
Check the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.
Published outdoor peak
iPhone Air3000 nits
Pixel 9a2700 nits
Sources
Pixel 9a
Manufacturer peak claim; HDR brightness is listed separately as up to 1,800 nits.
Google UK Pixel 9a technical specificationsCheck the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.
Pixel density
iPhone Air460 ppi
Pixel 9a422.2 ppi
Sources
Check the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.
Rear camera modules
iPhone Air1
Pixel 9a2
Sources
Compare the camera hardware and recording modes. Matching megapixels or zoom do not mean identical cameras.
Screen size
iPhone Air6.5 in
Pixel 9a6.3 in
Sources
iPhone Air
Nominal diagonal; actual viewable area is smaller.
Apple UK iPhone Air technical specificationsPixel 9a
US page states 6.3 inches; UK page states 160 mm. Not converted by us.
Google UK Pixel 9a technical specificationsGoogle US Pixel 9a technical specifications (regional comparison)Check the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.
Thickness
iPhone Air5.64 mm
Pixel 9a8.9 mm
Sources
A size or weight trade-off; it does not establish the better product.
Weight
In Visual factsiPhone Air165 g
Pixel 9a186 g
Sources
A size or weight trade-off; it does not establish the better product.
Manufacturer wording of separate fields (1)
Combined manufacturer descriptions whose values are listed as separate differences. Kept here so every verified difference stays in one list.
Dimensions
iPhone Air156.2 × 74.7 × 5.64 mm (height × width × thickness)
Pixel 9a154.7 × 73.3 × 8.9 mm (height × width × depth)
Sources
A size or weight trade-off; it does not establish the better product.
Small physical differences (2)
Height
iPhone Air156.2 mm
Pixel 9a154.7 mm
Sources
A size or weight trade-off; it does not establish the better product.
Width
In Visual factsiPhone Air74.7 mm
Pixel 9a73.3 mm
Sources
A size or weight trade-off; it does not establish the better product.
Configuration & compatibility details (1)
Regional SIM / network configuration
iPhone AirUK model A3517; eSIM only
Pixel 9aUK model GTF7P; nano-SIM + eSIM
Sources
iPhone Air
Dual eSIM (two active eSIMs); no physical SIM slot; 5G (sub-6 GHz). Carrier eSIM support needs confirming with your network.
Apple UK iPhone Air technical specificationsPixel 9a
UK page lists model GTF7P with LTE bands 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/17/18/19/20/21/26/28/32/38/39/40/41/42/66/75. The US store page instead lists model GXQ96 with US carrier bands (e.g. LTE 13/14/25/29/30/48/71, 5G n70/n71), so the UK and US units are different hardware models. Check carrier support before using one region's model in the other.
Google UK Pixel 9a technical specificationsGoogle US Pixel 9a technical specifications (regional comparison)These descriptions or measurements differ. Wording alone does not establish a different capability; check the exact configuration.
Missing or non-comparable evidence (30)
Rear 4K recording maximum
iPhone Air60 fps
Pixel 9aNot verified
Sources
iPhone Air
Manufacturer recording-mode claim; not an independent quality or sustained-recording test.
Apple UK iPhone Air technical specificationsPixel 9a
No source recorded for this side.
Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
Front 4K recording maximum
iPhone Air60 fps
Pixel 9aNot verified
Sources
Pixel 9a
No source recorded for this side.
Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
Rear camera optical stabilisation
iPhone AirNot verified
Pixel 9aYes
Sources
iPhone Air
No source recorded for this side.
Pixel 9a
Listed for the wide camera only; the ultra-wide lists none.
Google UK Pixel 9a technical specificationsEvidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
Rear camera autofocus
iPhone AirNot verified
Pixel 9aNot verified
Sources
iPhone Air
No source recorded for this side.
Pixel 9a
The wide camera is listed as 'Quad PD Dual Pixel' but the page does not explicitly state autofocus for either rear camera; not converted into a capability claim.
Google UK Pixel 9a technical specificationsEvidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
Front camera autofocus
iPhone AirYes
Pixel 9aNot verified
Sources
Pixel 9a
The manufacturer does not say whether the front camera has autofocus.
Google UK Pixel 9a technical specificationsEvidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
Front camera optical stabilisation
iPhone AirNot verified
Pixel 9aNot verified
Sources
iPhone Air
No source recorded for this side.
Pixel 9a
The manufacturer does not say whether the front camera has optical stabilisation.
Google UK Pixel 9a technical specificationsEvidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
Claimed local video playback
iPhone Air27 hours
Pixel 9aNot verified
Sources
iPhone Air
Apple UK up-to claim, without an external battery; not mixed-use battery life.
Apple UK iPhone Air technical specificationsPixel 9a
Not verified for this exact model.
No source recorded for this side.
Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
Typical battery capacity
iPhone AirNot verified
Pixel 9a5100 mAh
Sources
iPhone Air
No source recorded for this side.
Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
Wired charging power
iPhone AirNot verified
Pixel 9aNot verified
Sources
iPhone Air
No source recorded for this side.
Pixel 9a
Google lists only 'Fast charging' and publishes no wired charging rate or charge time; its footnote says fast wired charging rates are based on the Google 45W USB-C Charger (sold separately). The UK configuration page's charger label says this SKU supports USB PD chargers with power minimum 7.5 W and maximum 27 W (charger not included). That is charger compatibility, not a charging rate, so the value stays unknown.
Google UK Pixel 9a technical specificationsPixel 9a Obsidian 256 GB (unlocked) — Google UK Store configurationEvidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
Time to 50% wired charge
iPhone Air30 minutes
Pixel 9aNot verified
Sources
iPhone Air
Apple claim using a separately sold 20W or higher USB-C adapter.
Apple UK iPhone Air technical specificationsPixel 9a
No source recorded for this side.
Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
RAM
iPhone AirNot verified
Pixel 9a8 GB
Sources
Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
Expandable storage
iPhone AirNot verified
Pixel 9aNot verified
Sources
iPhone Air
Not verified for this exact model.
No source recorded for this side.
Pixel 9a
Not verified for this exact model.
No source recorded for this side.
Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
Published support term
iPhone AirNot verified
Pixel 9a7 years
Sources
iPhone Air
Not verified for this exact model.
No source recorded for this side.
Pixel 9a
OS, security and Pixel Drop updates; counted by Google from initial availability, not from purchase.
Google UK Pixel 9a technical specificationsEvidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
Cellular modem
iPhone AirApple C1X
Pixel 9aNot verified
Sources
iPhone Air
Listed in the UK Mobile and Wireless section for model A3517.
Apple UK iPhone Air technical specificationsPixel 9a
No source recorded for this side.
Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
Cover glass
iPhone AirNot verified
Pixel 9aCorning Gorilla Glass 3
Sources
iPhone Air
No source recorded for this side.
Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
Exact Google UK store configuration
iPhone AirNot verified
Pixel 9a_pixel_9a_obsidian_256gb_unlocked
Sources
iPhone Air
No source recorded for this side.
Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
Headphone jack
iPhone AirNot verified
Pixel 9aNot verified
Sources
iPhone Air
Not verified for this exact model.
No source recorded for this side.
Pixel 9a
Not verified for this exact model.
No source recorded for this side.
Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
In the box
iPhone AirNot verified
Pixel 9aPixel 9a · 1 m USB-C to USB-C cable (USB 2.0) · SIM tool
Sources
iPhone Air
No source recorded for this side.
Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
RAM and storage configuration
iPhone AirRAM not published; 256 GB storage
Pixel 9a8 GB RAM; 256 GB storage
Sources
One source states less detail or a rounded figure. This is not a verified difference; check the exact configuration.
Published network bands
iPhone AirNot verified
Pixel 9a5G Sub-6 GHz (model GTF7P) · GSM/EDGE: quad-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) · UMTS/HSPA+/HSDPA: bands 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 19 · LTE: bands 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/17/18/19/20/21/26/28/32/38/39/40/41/42/66/75 · 5G Sub-6: bands 1/2/3/5/7/8/12/20/26/28/38/40/41/66/75/77/78/79 · NB-IoT: bands 23/255/256
Sources
iPhone Air
No source recorded for this side.
Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
Optical-quality crop reach
iPhone Air2×
Pixel 9aNot verified
Sources
iPhone Air
Main-sensor crop mode, not a separate telephoto lens.
Apple UK iPhone Air technical specificationsPixel 9a
Not verified for this exact model.
No source recorded for this side.
Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
Published professional camera workflows
iPhone Air0
Pixel 9aNot verified
Sources
iPhone Air
Versus counts four workflow types: RAW stills, professional codecs, log capture and external production tools. Apple lists HEIF/JPEG photos and HEVC/H.264 video, and none of the four workflows.
Apple UK iPhone Air technical specificationsPixel 9a
No source recorded for this side.
Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
Reverse wireless charging
iPhone AirNot verified
Pixel 9aNot verified
Sources
iPhone Air
Not verified for this exact model.
No source recorded for this side.
Pixel 9a
Not verified for this exact model.
No source recorded for this side.
Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
Satellite SOS
iPhone AirNot verified
Pixel 9aNot verified
Sources
iPhone Air
No source recorded for this side.
Pixel 9a
Satellite SOS is not listed in Google's UK Safety specification for this model, so check before relying on it.
Google UK Pixel 9a technical specificationsEvidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
Sensors
iPhone AirNot verified
Pixel 9aProximity · Ambient light · Accelerometer · Gyrometer · Magnetometer · Barometer
Sources
iPhone Air
No source recorded for this side.
Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
Claimed streamed video
iPhone Air22 hours
Pixel 9aNot verified
Sources
Pixel 9a
No source recorded for this side.
Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
8K video recording
iPhone AirNot verified
Pixel 9aNot verified
Sources
Pixel 9a
Video is listed up to 4K; 8K recording is not mentioned.
Google UK Pixel 9a technical specificationsEvidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
Video recording
iPhone AirNot verified
Pixel 9aRear: 4K at 30/60 FPS, 1080p at 30/60 FPS, digital zoom up to 5x; Front: 4K at 30 FPS; slo-mo up to 240 FPS; formats HEVC, AVC, AV1, VP9
Sources
iPhone Air
No source recorded for this side.
Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
Wireless charging power
iPhone AirNot verified
Pixel 9a7.5 W
Sources
iPhone Air
No source recorded for this side.
Pixel 9a
Manufacturer 'up to' figure with Qi-certified EPP chargers (sold separately); Google says actual results may be slower. Not a measured rate.
Google UK Pixel 9a technical specificationsEvidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
MagSafe / Qi2 power
iPhone Air20 W
Pixel 9aNot verified
Sources
Pixel 9a
No source recorded for this side.
Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.
7 shared fields have the same recorded value.
COMPARE THE DETAILS
Full specifications
All specs62 specificationsiPhone AirPixel 9a
iPhone AirPixel 9aWeightDiffers
Sources
165g
186g
WidthDiffers
Sources
74.7mm
73.3mm
ThicknessDiffers
Sources
5.64mm
8.9mm
DimensionsDiffers
Sources
156.2 × 74.7 × 5.64 mm (height × width × thickness)
154.7 × 73.3 × 8.9 mm (height × width × depth)
HeightDiffers
Sources
156.2 mm
154.7 mm
Form factor
Sources
slab
slabSingle-screen bar phone per the published dimensions.
ColourDiffers
Space Black
Obsidian
Screen sizeDiffers
6.5″
Nominal diagonal; actual viewable area is smaller.
6.3″
US page states 6.3 inches; UK page states 160 mm. Not converted by us.
Published peak brightnessManufacturer peak claims use different test conditions.Differs
Sources
3000 nits
Published outdoor peak · Outdoor peak claim.
2700 nits
Claimed peak brightness · Manufacturer peak claim; HDR brightness is listed separately as up to 1,800 nits.
Pixel densityDiffers
Sources
460 ppi
422.2 ppi
Maximum refresh rate
Sources
120Hz
Adaptive ProMotion.
120Hz
Display specificationDiffers
Sources
6.5-inch OLED; 2736 × 1260; up to 120 Hz; 3000 nits peak (outdoor)460 ppi; ProMotion adaptive refresh; 1,000 nits typical and 1,600 nits HDR peak.
pOLED; 2424 × 1080; 60–120 Hz; 2,700 nits peakDiagonal published as 160 mm on the UK page and 6.3 inches on the US page; 422.2 PPI; up to 1,800 nits (HDR); Corning Gorilla Glass 3; >1,000,000:1 contrast. Brightness figures are Google claims.
Display resolutionDiffers
Sources
2736 × 1260
1080 × 2424
Native telephoto reach
Sources
No dedicated lensDedicated telephoto reach · The 2× mode crops the main sensor; there is no dedicated telephoto module.
No dedicated lensDedicated telephoto reach · No telephoto camera is listed; Super Res Zoom up to 8x is digital/computational.
Rear camera modulesDiffers
Sources
1
2
Camera systemDiffers
Sources
Main: 48 MP (f/1.6, OIS), 2x crop mode; Front: 18 MP; Video: up to 4K 60 fps
Wide: 48 MP (f/1.7, OIS); Ultra-wide: 13 MP (f/2.2); Front: 13 MP (f/2.2); Video: up to 4K 60 fpsNo dedicated telephoto: Google lists Super Res Zoom up to 8x (digital) and 'optical quality' at 0.5x and 1x. Wide 1/2" sensor, 82° field of view, Quad PD Dual Pixel; ultra-wide 1/3.1" sensor, 120°; selfie 96.1° field of view. Front video 4K 30 fps.
Optical-quality zoom
Sources
Pixel 9aNo source recorded
2×Main-sensor crop mode, not a separate telephoto lens.
Not verifiedNot verified for this exact model.
Front cameraDiffers
Sources
18 MP Center Stage · f/1.9 · autofocus
13 MP selfie camera; f/2.2 aperture; 96.1° ultrawide field of view
Published professional camera workflows
Sources
Pixel 9aNo source recorded
0Versus counts four workflow types: RAW stills, professional codecs, log capture and external production tools. Apple lists HEIF/JPEG photos and HEVC/H.264 video, and none of the four workflows.
Not verified
Main camera optical stabilisation
Sources
YesSensor-shift OIS is stated for the 48 MP Fusion Main, the only rear camera.
Yes
Rear 4K recording maximum
Sources
Pixel 9aNo source recorded
60 fpsManufacturer recording-mode claim; not an independent quality or sustained-recording test.
Not verified
Front 4K recording maximum
Sources
Pixel 9aNo source recorded
60 fpsFront 18 MP Center Stage camera only.
Not verified
Front camera autofocus
Sources
Yes
Not verifiedThe manufacturer does not say whether the front camera has autofocus.
Rear camera optical stabilisation
Sources
iPhone AirNo source recorded
Not verified
YesListed for the wide camera only; the ultra-wide lists none.
Claimed video playbackUp-to manufacturer claims. Playback protocols differ.
Sources
Pixel 9aNo source recorded
27 hoursClaimed local video playback · Apple UK up-to claim, without an external battery; not mixed-use battery life.
Not verifiedNot verified for this exact model.
Wireless charging
Sources
Yes
YesQi certified. Google's UK specification footnote gives a wireless charging rate of up to 7.5 W with Qi-certified EPP chargers (sold separately) and says actual results may be slower.
Battery and chargingDiffers
Sources
Up to 27 h video; fast wired charging (20 W+ adapter), 20 W wirelessApple does not publish battery capacity in mAh. Up to 22 h streamed video; up to 50% in 30 minutes with a separately sold 20 W or higher USB-C adapter; MagSafe and Qi2 up to 20 W. Apple claims, not independent tests.
5,100 mAh typical (5,000 mAh minimum); fast wired charging; Qi wireless chargingGoogle publishes no wired charging rate: its footnote says fast wired charging rates are based on the Google 45W USB-C Charger (adapters sold separately). Wireless charging is up to 7.5 W with Qi-certified EPP chargers. Battery-life claims (30+ hours; up to 100 hours with Extreme Battery Saver) are Google estimates, not independent tests.
Claimed streamed video
Sources
Pixel 9aNo source recorded
22 hoursApple UK up-to claim.
Not verified
Time to 50% wired charge
Sources
Pixel 9aNo source recorded
30 minutesApple claim using a separately sold 20W or higher USB-C adapter.
Not verified
MagSafe / Qi2 power
Sources
Pixel 9aNo source recorded
20 WCompatible charger and adapter required.
Not verified
Typical battery capacity
Sources
iPhone AirNo source recorded
Not verified
5100 mAhTypical; minimum rated capacity 5,000 mAh.
Wireless charging power
Sources
iPhone AirNo source recorded
Not verified
7.5 WManufacturer 'up to' figure with Qi-certified EPP chargers (sold separately); Google says actual results may be slower. Not a measured rate.
Published support term
Sources
iPhone AirNo source recorded
Not verifiedNot verified for this exact model.
7 yearsPublished update term · OS, security and Pixel Drop updates; counted by Google from initial availability, not from purchase.
Update policyDiffers
Sources
No fixed update period published; ships with iOS 26
7 years of OS, security and Pixel Drop updatesGoogle's page does not state the start date on this page; Google's policy for Pixel counts from the model's initial availability, so the remaining term is shorter for a model launched with Android 15.
Launch operating systemDiffers
Sources
iOS 26
Launched with Android 15
ChipsetDiffers
Sources
Apple A19 Pro · 6 CPU cores · 5 GPU cores · 16-core Neural Engine
Google Tensor G4Titan M2 security coprocessor.
RAM and storage configurationDiffers
Sources
RAM not published; 256 GB storageApple does not publish RAM capacity.
8 GB RAM; 256 GB storage
Regional SIM / network configurationConfiguration
UK model A3517; eSIM onlyDual eSIM (two active eSIMs); no physical SIM slot; 5G (sub-6 GHz). Carrier eSIM support needs confirming with your network.
UK model GTF7P; nano-SIM + eSIMUK page lists model GTF7P with LTE bands 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/17/18/19/20/21/26/28/32/38/39/40/41/42/66/75. The US store page instead lists model GXQ96 with US carrier bands (e.g. LTE 13/14/25/29/30/48/71, 5G n70/n71), so the UK and US units are different hardware models. Check carrier support before using one region's model in the other.
Storage
Sources
256 GB
256 GB
RAM
Sources
Not verifiedNot stated by the manufacturer.
8 GB
Panel technologyDiffers
Sources
OLED
pOLED
eSIM onlyDiffers
Sources
Yes
No
Ingress protection rating
Sources
IP68Apple laboratory condition: 6 m for 30 minutes. Resistance is not permanent.
IP68
Ports and buttonsDiffers
Sources
USB-C; USB 2 data up to 480 Mb/s
USB Type-C 3.2 · Power button · Volume controls
Wireless connectivityDiffers
Sources
Wi-Fi 7 · Bluetooth 6 · Thread · second-generation UWB
Wi-Fi 6E (2.4/5/6 GHz, 2×2 MIMO) · Bluetooth 5.3 · NFC · Google Cast · Dual-band GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, NavIC)
AuthenticationDiffers
Sources
Face ID
Fingerprint Unlock · Face Unlock · Pattern, PIN, password
UK manufacturer reference priceDiffers
£1,099Apple UK price for the 256 GB model in September 2026; retailer prices may differ.
£499Google UK Store price for Pixel 9a Obsidian 256 GB (unlocked) on 26 September 2026, when it was the only in-stock UK Pixel 9a configuration (the 128 GB and other colours showed 'Out of stock'). Not a live offer; retailer prices may differ.
Cellular modem
Sources
Pixel 9aNo source recorded
Apple C1XListed in the UK Mobile and Wireless section for model A3517.
Not verified
Published network bands
Sources
iPhone AirNo source recorded
Not verified
5G Sub-6 GHz (model GTF7P) · GSM/EDGE: quad-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) · UMTS/HSPA+/HSDPA: bands 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 19 · LTE: bands 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/17/18/19/20/21/26/28/32/38/39/40/41/42/66/75 · 5G Sub-6: bands 1/2/3/5/7/8/12/20/26/28/38/40/41/66/75/77/78/79 · NB-IoT: bands 23/255/256
Sensors
Sources
iPhone AirNo source recorded
Not verified
Proximity · Ambient light · Accelerometer · Gyrometer · Magnetometer · Barometer
In the box
Sources
iPhone AirNo source recorded
Not verified
Pixel 9a · 1 m USB-C to USB-C cable (USB 2.0) · SIM toolNo charger is listed in the box.
Cover glass
Sources
iPhone AirNo source recorded
Not verified
Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Video recording
Sources
iPhone AirNo source recorded
Not verified
Rear: 4K at 30/60 FPS, 1080p at 30/60 FPS, digital zoom up to 5x; Front: 4K at 30 FPS; slo-mo up to 240 FPS; formats HEVC, AVC, AV1, VP9
Exact Google UK store configuration
Sources
iPhone AirNo source recorded
Not verified
_pixel_9a_obsidian_256gb_unlocked
Show unverified (8)Not verified or conflicting for both phones. Kept for completeness; never counted as a difference.
8K video recording
Sources
Not verified8K recording is not mentioned.
Not verifiedVideo is listed up to 4K; 8K recording is not mentioned.
Reverse wireless charging
Not verifiedNot verified for this exact model.
Not verifiedNot verified for this exact model.
Headphone jack
Not verifiedNot verified for this exact model.
Not verifiedNot verified for this exact model.
Expandable storage
Not verifiedNot verified for this exact model.
Not verifiedNot verified for this exact model.
Wired charging power
Sources
iPhone AirNo source recorded
Not verified
Not verifiedGoogle lists only 'Fast charging' and publishes no wired charging rate or charge time; its footnote says fast wired charging rates are based on the Google 45W USB-C Charger (sold separately). The UK configuration page's charger label says this SKU supports USB PD chargers with power minimum 7.5 W and maximum 27 W (charger not included). That is charger compatibility, not a charging rate, so the value stays unknown.
Rear camera autofocus
Sources
iPhone AirNo source recorded
Not verified
Not verifiedThe wide camera is listed as 'Quad PD Dual Pixel' but the page does not explicitly state autofocus for either rear camera; not converted into a capability claim.
Front camera optical stabilisation
Sources
iPhone AirNo source recorded
Not verified
Not verifiedThe manufacturer does not say whether the front camera has optical stabilisation.
Satellite SOS
Sources
iPhone AirNo source recorded
Not verified
Not verifiedSatellite SOS is not listed in Google's UK Safety specification for this model, so check before relying on it.
Exact variants · Manufacturer specificationsView sources
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Manufacturer specifications verified for both phones. Your choice doesn’t change the comparison above.
Good comparisons start with good sources.6 cited sources for this pair. Every number has a story.See the evidence
Important verified differences fall outside the scoring model, so no score is shown. Manufacturer battery claims can use different test conditions. Verified specifications remain visible even where a category cannot be scored.
How we calculate scoresApple iPhone Air
256 GB · checked 28 Sept 2026
Specifications & verification
Weight165 gManufacturer claim · high confidenceApple
Width74.7 mmManufacturer claim · high confidenceApple
Thickness5.64 mmManufacturer claim · high confidenceApple
Display size6.5 inchesManufacturer claim · high confidence
Nominal diagonal; actual viewable area is smaller.
AppleClaimed video playback27 hoursManufacturer claim · high confidence
Apple UK up-to claim, without an external battery; not mixed-use battery life.
AppleClaimed charging rate1.67% per minuteCalculated from sources · low confidence
Apple claim using a separately sold 20W or higher USB-C adapter. 50 divided by 30 minutes; not a sustained charging rate.
ApplePublished total supportNot verified
Not published
Wireless chargingYesManufacturer claim · high confidenceApple
Reverse wireless chargingNot verified
Not published
Headphone jackNot verified
Not published
Expandable storageNot verified
Not published
eSIM onlyYesManufacturer claim · high confidenceApple
IP ratingIP68Manufacturer claim · high confidence
Apple laboratory condition: 6 m for 30 minutes. Resistance is not permanent.
ApplePixel density460 ppiManufacturer claim · high confidenceApple
Native telephoto reach0×Manufacturer claim · high confidence
The 2× mode crops the main sensor; there is no dedicated telephoto module.
AppleClaimed optical-quality reach2×Manufacturer claim · high confidence
Main-sensor crop mode, not a separate telephoto lens.
AppleRear camera modules1Manufacturer claim · high confidenceApple
Manufacturer list price£1,099.00Reference only · not a live offer or current priceApple
All sources3
- Apple UK iPhone Air technical specificationsApple · accessed 10 Sept 2026
- Apple UK iPhone Air configurationsApple · accessed 10 Sept 2026
- iPhone Air exact UK configurationApple · accessed 10 Sept 2026
Google Pixel 9a
256 GB · checked 26 Sept 2026
Specifications & verification
Weight186 gManufacturer claim · high confidenceGoogle
Width73.3 mmManufacturer claim · high confidenceGoogle
Thickness8.9 mmManufacturer claim · high confidenceGoogle
Display size6.3 inchesManufacturer claim · high confidence
US page states 6.3 inches; UK page states 160 mm. Not converted by us.
GoogleGooglePeak brightness2,700 nitsManufacturer claim · high confidence
Manufacturer peak claim; HDR brightness is listed separately as up to 1,800 nits.
GoogleClaimed video playbackNot verified
Not published
Claimed charging rateNot verified
Not published
Published total support7 yearsManufacturer claim · high confidence
OS, security and Pixel Drop updates; counted by Google from initial availability, not from purchase.
GoogleWireless chargingYesManufacturer claim · high confidence
Qi certified. Google's UK specification footnote gives a wireless charging rate of up to 7.5 W with Qi-certified EPP chargers (sold separately) and says actual results may be slower.
GoogleReverse wireless chargingNot verified
Not published
Headphone jackNot verified
Not published
Expandable storageNot verified
Not published
eSIM onlyNoManufacturer claim · high confidenceGoogle
IP ratingIP68Manufacturer claim · high confidenceGoogle
RAM8 GBManufacturer claim · high confidenceGoogle
Pixel density422.2 ppiManufacturer claim · high confidenceGoogle
Maximum refresh rate120 HzManufacturer claim · high confidenceGoogle
Native telephoto reach0×Manufacturer claim · high confidence
No telephoto camera is listed; Super Res Zoom up to 8x is digital/computational.
GoogleClaimed optical-quality reachNot verified
Not published
Rear camera modules2Manufacturer claim · high confidenceGoogle
Manufacturer list price£499.00Reference only · not a live offer or current priceGoogle
All sources3
- Google UK Pixel 9a technical specificationsGoogle · accessed 26 Sept 2026
- Pixel 9a Obsidian 256 GB (unlocked) — Google UK Store configurationGoogle · accessed 26 Sept 2026
- Google US Pixel 9a technical specifications (regional comparison)Google · accessed 26 Sept 2026
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The verified differences and their sources, in one link.